[CM]: We left our heroes on the roof of Riker's building, having just encountered a corpse that was less dead than most people prefer.
[Francis]: "I suggest we RUN!"
Riker is already pounding his way towards the roof exit, and down the stairs. Can't have that damn zombie attacking bystanders...
Francis scrambles down the stairs behind Riker
[Benny]: "Francis, this is the plan. When the cops get here we just saw that corpse because it was dripping blood in our window and then it twitched and we panicked and blew tha hell out of it."
Benny is also sprinting to the street.
[Francis]: "Uh...uh..." <pant> <pant> "Sure. Fine." <pant> <pant> "Whatever."
[Benny]: "Forensics should confirm that."
Riker stiffarms the alley exit, taking roughly a second to slam the big bore automatic he's carrying into its holster. "Goddamn, gonna haveta do paperwork now..."
[CM]: By the time you reach the street, you can hear sirens in the distance...
Francis is probably several flights behind both Riker and Benny
[Benny]: "Oh well, here come the men in blue."
[Riker]: "Figures. You guys hang back. I'm gonna take a look-see..."
[CM]: As soon as you appear, there are shrieks from the crowd that has gathered.
[Benny]: "At least they are quick."
[Bystander]: "Look out! He's got a gun!"
[Benny]: "Yeah, yeah, shoo."
Riker rolls his eyes. "Jesus weeping Christ."  Louder -- "Look, everybody calm down, the police're on their way..."
[CM]: People drop to the sidewalk or cower away from you. One woman appears to be having some sort of fit. A guy in a suit hurls his wallet at you, almost weeping in fear. "Just don't hurt me..."
Riker leans against the alley wall. "Christ, Benny...this's a real cock-up, y'know that?"
Riker absently picks the wallet up and tosses it back at the man.  "I'm a private investigator, schmuck! Not some cheap hood!"
[Benny]: "Not really. This people are just panicking. Once things calm down we should be alright."
[CM]: Across the street, a kid in trainers and jeans is taking snapshots of the scene.
[Benny]: "We may end up in a cell meanwhile."
[Riker]: "You ain't the one that's got to fill out the damn paperwork."
[CM]: The body is lying very still...
Francis is hanging back and not going out onto the street until he has to...
[Benny]: "Whatever, but we are all going to be drilled in the station. Including you Francis."
[CM]: The sirens are getting closer
Riker shakes his head. "We go with the basic story. My ass'll be in a grinder, but that's what they pay me for." He looks over at the corpse. "They don't pay me nearly enough."
[Benny]: "What basic story?"
Riker is waiting in the alley for the police. "The body twitched, we freaked, blew it off'a the damn roof."
[Francis]: "Blood dripping, twitched, freaked, you filled it full of bullets."
[Benny]: "That's my basic story too! What a coincidence!"
Francis looks more than a little shell-shocked
[Benny]: "Don't go puking again Francis. I hate the sound."
[Riker]: "Imagine that. Christ, the brotherhood's gonna have my license for this...hey, Francis, you okay? Sit down, man."
[CM]: Black and whites screech into the street and pull up across the road.
[Cop]: "Drop your weapons!"
Francis is clutching his laptop to his chest and doesn't seem to be reacting very quickly...
Benny drops the piece and puts his hands high where they can be seen.
[Riker]: "Spiffy." He unhooks the shoulder holster and lays it carefully on the alley tarmac, then clasps his hands behind his head.  Doesn't feel like shouting, apparently.
[Benny]: "Francis, put the laptop down and do as we do."
[Francis]: "Huh?"
[Cop]: "Drop your weapons NOW!"
[Benny]: "I'm tired, put the laptop down before something bad really happens."
Francis looks in the direction of the shout, eyes somewhat glazed.
[Benny]: "Francis, drop it!"
[Francis]: "Oh, dreadfully sorry."
Francis lays the laptop down in front of him with exaggerated care.
[Riker]: "It's cool, Francis. We just tell 'em the truth, is all.  I've got friends on the force. They're gonna chew my ass for this, guaranteed..."
[Cop]: "Turn around, put your hands behind your back."
Francis raises his hands high above his head. Then puts them behind his back.
Benny does as he is told, slowly and painfully.
Benny looks towards the corpse.
The cop and his partner cuff the three of you.
The cop looks at Francis.
[Cop]: "Whaddayou, deaf?" he says to Francis.
[Francis]: "Huh?"
[Benny]: "No, he's just a bit slow."
[Francis]: "Oh, rather, I mean, I beg your pardon?"
Riker sighs. Zombie bums, zombie headless guys, why not zombie cops?
[Riker]: "Name's Riker. P.I. Check my ID. Back pocket. Some sick bastard put that thing on top'a my building."
[Benny]: "Francis, turn around and put your hands behind your back.   You've seen the movies and TV, right?"
[Francis]: "Er... yes."
Francis does as he's told
[Cop]: "Riker? I heard a'you. Not impressed. You have the right to remain silent, yadda, yadda, yadda. You know the drill."
[Francis]: "Er, no, actually I don't.  Would you mind terribly going through the whole thing?"
[Benny]: "Francis, don't."
[Riker]: "Yeah, yeah, miranda. I'm the one that's gotta fill out the paperwork..."
Francis gives Benny a puzzled look.
[Francis]: "But I *don't* know the drill!"
[Cop]: "Less of the lip smart guy. Who are you supposed to be, Doctor Dolittle?"
[Francis]: "Er, no. Dr. Francis Walters, officer."
[Riker]: "He's English, man. Cut him some slack, huh?"
[Cop]: "Well, Doc, you're a perp now, so less with the mouth and get into the car."
[Francis]: "Er, officer, my laptop?"
[Cop]: "It's evidence now Doc" grins the cop.
[Francis]: "As long as it's not left on the street, I suppose."
Riker mutters, "Jerk."
[CM]: The cops push you into the back of their cruiser..
Francis doesn't resist - not like he could!
[CM]: Benny is put in first, then Francis and Riker.
[Riker]: "Hi, there, Francis. Fancy meeting you here."
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker. We're in trouble, aren't we?"
[Riker]: "Big trouble. But that's okay. I've been in trouble before.  Just remember this advice, when you're in jail -- some big guy says hello t'you, bash his head in with a mop handle. And call me Alan, Francis. Mister Riker was my dad."
[CM]: You're left in the car for a moment, as the cops start to organise taking names and addresses of witnesses.
[Francis]: "Er... oh dear.  I don't think I can do that, Mr.-- Alan."
Francis sinks down in the seat, looking mortified.
[Francis]: "I've never been in a jail.  Not even to visit..."
[Riker]: "They'll just stick us in a holding tank.  No big deal."
[CM]: While you're waiting, the news trucks show up.
[Riker]: "Oh, man. Cover your face, Francis. News crew."
[Francis]: (mutters to Riker) "Now I can hardly do that with my hands cuffed behind me, now can I?"
[CM]: The drivers side door opens, and a shave headed handsome man in a Peirre Cardin suit slides into the seat. His skin is like ebony, and his smile is a splash of startling white.
[Stranger]: "Evening boys. Looks like you're in a whole mess o' trouble."
Riker shrugs, casually, looking the Suit over. "Garbage strike, you know how it is. Somebody left some trash on our roof."
[Stranger]: "People are so bad these days. Still, all you have to do is wait until the forensics report clears you, right?"
[Riker]: "Something like that. An' who might you be?"
[Stranger]: "A concerned citizen. Problem is, the forensics won't clear you. It'll say that the fatal wound came from your gun, and the mutilation was done post mortem, by you."
[Riker]: "Greeeeat. And I suppose we decapitated the guy, too, right?"
The stranger nods, still smiling.
[Francis]: "But... but... his head was off!  Well, mostly off..."
[Riker]: "Super.  Just fucking great. Well, since you're so much in the know, why don't cha give your statement an' get us all off the hook, pal?"
[Stranger]: "You'll all get life. Benny will get knifed six months after entering prison, Francis here will live out the rest of his life as prison librarian, and you'll die from an untreated tumor in five years."
[Benny]: "At least I get out quickly!!"
[Francis]: "But... we're innocent!"
[Benny]: "Francis, librarian for life. That's not half bad, huh?"
Riker narrows his eyes. "We were set up, Francis. C'mon, you know how this works. Set up. Damn." He scowls at the stranger. "So we're just supposed to fold at this part, right?"
[Francis]: "Actually, I suspect this is the point at which he makes his offer, Mr. Riker. Er... Alan."
[Benny]: "Oh well, in that case let's hear it."
[Riker]: "You might be correct.  Well, Mister Clean, what's the deal?"
[Stranger]: "I can make all of this go away."
[Francis]: "In return for...?"
[Stranger]: "A favour."
[Riker]: "Get to the point."
[Stranger]: "I want you to find out who is killing my...associates, and stop them."
[Benny]: "I'm listening."
[Francis]: "Who... are your associates?"
Stranger grins ferally.
Riker looks at Francis for a moment, then back to the stranger.
[Stranger]: "There''s a very delicate balance that someone is trying to upset. My side want the balance maintained as much as the other side do. Which means we're dealing with a third player. My superiors want this third party stopped. You might call us...demons. Interesting word, means 'wise ones', you know?"
Francis looks like he's about to answer... then gives Riker a sidelong glance and stops
Riker blances, if only a bit. "Super," he mutters.
[Benny]: "Would this third side involve someone called Jophiel?"
Stranger looks surprised, then laughs.
[Stranger]: "Unlikely."
[Benny]: "Unlikely? Why?"
[Riker]: "Not real up on current events, are you, mister.  Jophiel offed a whole mess of people earlier. Boom."
[Stranger]: "Really? Interesting, but it's not Jophiel."
[Benny]: "Who is it then?"
[Stranger]: "That's what I want you to find out. Do we have a deal?"
[Benny]: "I need one straight answer."
[Stranger]: "Ask away."
[Benny]: "Was it you who set us up at Leo's?"
[Stranger]: "The diner? No, that wasn't me. My methods are subtler, and less messy."
Riker mutters, "Can't tell the players without a scorecard folks..."  A little louder -- "We find this guy, shut him down.  What d'you get out of it?"
[Stranger]: "What I get out of it is a peaceful town where I can do business undisturbed."
[Francis]: "And that work is?"
Riker scowls.
[Stranger]: "You're a naive little man aren't you? What do you think demons do? Bake Girl Scout cookies?"
[Francis]: "Probably with actual girl scouts. I will not make a deal with a demon."
[Riker]: "Corruption of the human spirit, Francis. Good man.  So...damned if we do, damned if we don't, is that it?"
[Stranger]: "We promote evil. We chip away at the veneer of decency you people pretend to have. We tempt. We cajole. We incite."
Francis seems to actually have borrowed a spine for the moment.
[Stranger]: "We don't incinerate innoccents."
[Riker]: "And slow corruption of the soul is better than mass murder how, again?"
[Stranger]: "At least we give our victims a choice."
[Riker]: "My dad used to say -- you dance with the devil, the devil don't change. The devil changes you. Francis here's got a point, mister clean."
[Riker]: "Like I said - damned if we do, damned if we don't."
[Francis]: "That does not mean that I'm unwilling to stop this... marauder, if such is within my power. I simply will not agree to help you, or even to leave you alone if it becomes necessary to try to stop you."
[Stranger]: "Then how about this. Our busy killer is chasing demons, and killing anyone who gets in his way. How long before he starts judging humans and finding them guilty too?"
(CM whispered to Benny): You suddenly remember the picture the psychics drew of a flame consuming the world.
Benny gets antsy on the other car while they continue to argue over what he sees as an unavoidable choice.
[Riker]: "Guess what, bunky. He already has. We're just too...trivial...to get his attention, yet. We'll take him down, sure enough...but what good'll it be if we end up in your court, hmm? Looks like you should be dealing with us, not the other way around.  We're the only chance you've got."
[Benny]: "Guys, I don't see any other way out. We actually have common goals, for the moment, and you can't go seeing things in black and white all the time like our pal Jophiel. We're not selling our souls here or anything."
[Francis]: "That's correct, Mr. Fitzpatrick. At least, I'm not... you're free to make your own deals.""
[Stranger]: "Don't kid a kidder, Alan. May I call you Alan? Right now, you're in the wringer. I'm your ticket out."
[Riker]: "And we're your ticket out. After all, it's our world, the middle realm. That's why, ain't it? You can't stop him because all you can do is cajole, tempt. Nothing direct, unless you getcher foot in the door."
[Francis]: "Why do you not simply stop him yourself?"
[Stranger]: "Because if he gets one sniff of me and my friends, we're barbecue along with anybody near us."
The stranger looks pointedly at his watch.
[Francis]: "Then, as Mr. Riker has so aptly pointed out, it serves you to have us be free."
[Riker]: "Exactly."
[Benny]: "Which is my point, Mr Walters."
The stranger sighs, obviously losing patience. "Last chance." He means it.
[Benny]: "We are not selling anything here."
[Francis]: "We have agreed, have we not, that we are indeed after the same individual? The... third side?"
[Benny]: "Look, "stranger" we came here for a reason. I believe we are after the same person. There is no need for the word 'deal'. You let us go, we'll continue doing our job."
[Stranger]: "Sorry, doesn't work like that. If I make all this go away, what's to stop you running off and hiding somewhere until all this blows over?"
[Francis]: "Integrity. You can look it up - it's in the dictionary. Or, if you can't comprehend the highter emotions, how about self-preservation?"
[Riker]: "There's that, too. Our preservation and yours. We're all after this fruit loop, and we're not gonna quit until he's taken down. Simple. Like Francis says -- it's a matter of integrity.  and like you said -- eventually, he'll start seeing just folks as targets. Call it enlightened self interest.""
The stranger shakes his head.
[Benny]: "What will assure you that we won't run? We're not cowards."
[Stranger]: "A contract."
[Benny]: "A contract? I don't like the sound of that. What are you taking about?"
[Stranger]: "You sign a contract to say that you will hunt and destroy (or at least stop) the individual who is killing my associates, and I make all of these troubles go away. If you attempt to run, you're mine. Simple enough."
[Benny]: "We will not run away."
[Francis]: "I will not sign a contract with a demon."
[Riker]: "And what's to stop you from altering the contract, or slipping something in the fine print? C'mon, man, why should we trust you?  you already said you're a demon, and that either means you are, or you're a total fruit loop like Jophiel. Either way, it's not a real good reason to trust you."
The strangers eyes flare crimson, his patience exhausted.
[Stranger]: "Fine. Don't. I hope you like prison food."
[Francis]: "At least I will own my soul..."
[CM]: He's gone...
[Riker]: "It's your ass, too, mister clean. Remember that."
[Benny]: "Well, let's see how this works out."
[Francis]: "I'm sorry, Mr. Riker, Mr. Fitzpatrick... I just cannot sign a contract with something like... that."
[CM]:
[CM]: The trial is swift and unpleasant. Media coverage portrays you all as monstrous killers, who brutally murdered an ex-police officer and mutilated his body. The evidence is overwhelming, and despite a spirited defence, you are all sentenced to life-imprisonment. Five months after being sent down, Benny is knifed in the cafeteria by Carlos "Snake" Vincenzo. The blade isn't long, but causes severe internal bleeding and kidney damage. Benny lingers for many days.
On the day Benny dies, a huge explosion of white fire annihilates Boston and much of the surrounding suburbs, killing over a hundred thousand people and throwing a huge ash cloud into the atmosphere.
Riker spends a lot of time in the gym, beating the living hell out of a punching bag.  Then he spends a lot of time in solitary, after snapping Vincenzo's neck.
Riker begins to have blackouts, during which time he talks to his dead friends Benny and Dick Donovan.
[CM]: Over the years the blackouts become more frequent, though Government cuts ensure that he recieves little or no treatment. No one believes the librarian when he mentions the word "tumour". Riker eventually goes insane during an exercise period, and assaults a guard. While in confinement, he suffers a cerebral heamorrahge and dies.
[CM]: Francis last much longer, living a life of quiet despair amongst the books of the prison library, trying to stay out to the way of the brutes who rule his wing of the prison.
[Francis]: A sad, quiet little man...But one who owns his own soul, and protests his innocence to the end.
[CM]: One day, shorty after his 75th birthday, he sits down at his desk, closes his eyes, and slips away.

Session ends

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